Richard Baird, Governor Rick Snyder's shadowy advisor, testified today in Detroit's bankruptcy eligibility hearing and made an interesting comment about his perceived fiduciary obligation as Michigan's "transformation manager."
Detroit News: Baird is the governor’s “transformation manager” who until recently was being paid through Snyder’s nonprofit NERD Fund.
“I was never a representative of the state,” Baird said.
“Who did you hold yourself out as?” Wertheimer asked.
“An independent consultant to the governor and his team involved in talent sourcing,” Baird said.
Now, actual state employees (be they civil service or political appointees) have as their primary responsibility the best interest of Michigan residents.
Baird, who was paid from the NERD Fund to advise on matters of public policy like selecting a law firm to manage Detroit's emergency manager/bankruptcy process, didn't consider himself to be an agent of the government, which is to say an agent of the people. He was working for Rick Snyder's interest. And if that interest potentially conflicted with the interest of Michiganders, well who knows.
